[mythtv-users] Cost of MythTV Machines

[Rudy Zijlstra]

Nick wrote:

>On 27/01/06, Ow Mun Heng <Ow.Mun.Heng at wdc.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>On Mon, 2006-01-23 at 09:02 -0500, Tom Hines wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>I assume the systems to which you are referring are HD capable and
>>>"just work".  My motive for building my own box was that I wanted to
>>>tinker with VIA min-itx mobos and it was just time for another DIY
>>>project.  I forget what the price breakdown was, but I'm in it for
>>>over $600 now.
>>>
>>>VIA EPIA M10000 (provides networking, video out, sound)
>>>      
>>>
>>A Via is nice, but seriously underpowered. PLaying DVD uses up to 80-90%
>>of CPU and let's not even talk about playing RealVideo. That's even
>>worst. It won't even play smoothly!!
>>
>>Nice Form Factor though. What's nice would be the new Omega-sd boxes
>>using a Pentium M chip.
>>    
>>
>
>My next MythTV machine (hopefully not required until HDTV hits the UK
>shores) will likely be based on a Pentium M CPU (I currently run
>Celeron 2.4/1.3 CPUs). My laptop (wireless FE) uses the 1.8GHz P-M and
>the fan is hardly ever on, but the power is there. Now if only
>Silverstone would drop their prices a bit - £185 (KustomsPcs) for a
>LC16M case in the UK - any better prices out there?
>  
>
If HD will be H.264 (likely), i do not think your P-M will have enough 
power.